Millennials are the largest age group since the Baby Boomer generation to join the workforce.
They have different ways of communication and are growth driven, so a job that enables teamwork and personal development is more likely to catch their attention than a job that calls for them to be imprisoned to a desk with little human interaction.
In the next decade we will see a shift from money motivated workers to more compassionate, loyalty and value-driven workers that care about issues like sustainability and innovation.
I don’t know about you guys, but I think it’s time we start paying a bit more attention to their needs, their desire to use their skills for good and their mindset of bettering society. It’s really quite simple. Millennials do not want to invest their skills into companies that view everything as a dollar sign. It’s the complete opposite. They want to make sure the time and skills they invest are going towards benefiting as many people as possible. The way millennial are used to working and the “old fashion way” of the Baby Boomers is all going to change in the next decade which calls for major adjustments to business models you may have in place.
Here are three simple guidelines you can apply when working with millennials:
Show Millennials How You Are Impacting Society
Millennials value donations, community involvement, preservation of the environment and philanthropies. If you participate in these in any way, it goes a long way to let your team know what you are doing to better the community. If your product is biodegradable or helping the environment in anyway, let them know. Made a charitable donation to an agreeable cause? Let them know. Want to do something for the community? Get the millennials involved. Not only will you increase your lines of communication with them, but it will build trust because your values align with their values. Don’t hold back. Show your team how you are making an impact based on your values.
Create Opportunities for Millennials
Delayed gratification is not as common with millennials as it is with the older generations. They are willing to work hard if they know they are not wasting their time. They want to learn. They want to develop. Creating an environment where you recognize their skills and aspirations and then developing a platform for them to reach those aspirations gives them a sense of satisfaction. Allow them to take on new projects, and if you feel like they are not ready to take on a new project, pair them with someone who has experience or someone they look up to. Give them the resources they need to innovate and a solid foundation of support to pursue their aspirations.
Let’s say that new hire really looks up to someone in your marketing department and wants to do work similar to what this person is already doing, give them the opportunity to learn from them. Remember, millennials like to work as a team.
Encourage Millennial Employees
Do not wait until their two year review to tell them how much you value them. Don’t do it! Millennials want to hear it in the moment! Remember that instant gratification we talked about? Well, chances are, they won’t stick around that long if they are not in a constant encouraging, empowering and growth focused environment. Do not let their age or their inexperience create a barrier. This generation is driven to change the world, and they will not surround themselves around people who do not believe in them.
No matter what, show that you care about their growth and their skills. Listen to what they want to learn and pat them on the back instead of always focusing on the negative.
